| Show up i iI I j vv u v J SIX 5 IX HUNDRED H U N D R E DD DOLLARS 0 L L A R S Tho Laboring Ton Ion Hours J Mans find and Sharing Drunkenness Daily Dall No How Ideal to Have II Working United n Industrial stool Day Dil I In t i f Sain find and Organized Labor c JOHN MITCHELL SAYS IS THE LEAST TilE THE POOREST r WOI WORKMAN I MAN SHOULD HAVE riA IE E EI YEAR EAR Tho Trades r d Unions for the tho l Regular e III Army The Abuses of 01 I t tr I cf 01 the New by Frank Fran Q G tr 1904 by G Carpen D C Feb 16 I met John Mitchell the president pr of the United lIno W Workers by IW In his rooms nt ot tho I house bou e I say by appoint appointment nl ment for Cor Mr Mitchell is on ono of or the busy bus men of tho Unit United ed States Ho e Is I the head had of or the largest labor union In the world The Tho Association tion of f United Mine Workers has hns moro mON than thon members ond It keeps keell In Its treasury to fight Its ita 9 with capital Mr Mitchell Is olIO alM one of oC the chief of oC the tho Federation of Labor which I Ihas has lias more than members s MI h ho ht has hus to do with Congress with ull sorts of oC labor disputes disputeR He It Iten en on the thc road about as nil much as 1111 the commercial traveler Ho comes to t ont once a II month and ond the re remainder of ot his time Is spent pent In Indian or In trawling traveling from place to Mcc settling labor troubles trouble Now Noll ho hoIn hoIs Is In New ell York ork counseling with tho men now lit Creek nd i i the rights of the Rold and II I lIler miners and now on all tho board of ft n great strike like 0 that of oC tho mines of or Pennsylvania LABORS YOUNG LEADER LI It takeR taken a strong man and a n coot cool coolman man to manage u II business like this a 11 man with u II good goot physique Iron neS and ft 1 temper well In hand Thee lire arc Among the tho characteristics of ot Mitchell His checks shine with health and his muscles oro Iron Iroll Ho has n 1 brown broil eye cro which laughs or grows graIl r rious as he ho talks and a jaw which holls determination Ho Is a 0 young oun man We roll rail President Roosevelt John Mitchell Is 10 years Cors young tr fr He I Is only 31 with his hili did l physique ph Is l n 1 good typo t J o of tho best cf ot the working men ho represents As wo chatted together ho Ravo me mea a word or to 0 about his early life lite He lie Hes lieIs Is s tho son lion of a n miner and MIlot nt 13 went Into Inlo tho Iho mines and worked there until ho was 28 26 That was wall only on I eight years BRO no to 0 that only two presidential terms hive elapsed since the tho John Johll Mitchell of today actually handling coal conI MITCHELL THE rIlE MINER I 1 asked etl him what he dill did In tho mines He III replied 1 Everything I began may work In III 11 coal mine nt the of oC 13 I started at the tho bottom at lit 75 cents a 11 day Then I breams n II driver at a I day from that I went on through tho varl trl our gradations of oC mining milling work until I think I con can truly Bay lW I done clono about everything eer connected with min mining ing When did you t Join a I trades union When I was 16 was the reply Anti And I I have been connected with organized labor from that until now 10 Hut how ho about your OUr education Mr r I Mitchell That came from Cram a II short course In Inthe the tho public schools for tor 1 began work very cry early In my lito All 11 that I 1 got afterward came tram from night study and rending reading When did you Income president of oC the United Mine In IMS and I have been Its president ever since TRUSTS AND J m TIm THE WORKING MAN MANThe The conversation turned to the tho Influence ence of trusts upon ullon the tho labor unions and I asked Mr Ir Mitchell whether tho great grent syndicates had strengthened or organized labor He I think they the have They have hn shown the men lIell the necessity for organization lion The have hayo grown rapidly the tho beginning of the tho great trust t wa ern they tho me 1110 growing rapidly today Do you ou think they Iw will some time rench nil 1111 branches of ot labor laborI I have no doub of It replied Mr h Mitchell ch ell How Hal about tho store clerks Tho rho retail clerks already well organized wa 1111 the tha reply They have unions In III nearly all of the cities und and I M their membership numbers about GO GOM wv What do you propose to do Increase III their wages I asked No replied Mr Ir Mitchell At t pres present ent tho clerks arc working for a 1 better arrangement of time They want short shorter er el hours and fixed ones for Cor opening closing Tho 1110 union Includes I lie wo women women men clerks as os well lell as Oil the men menTHE THE AMERICAN WOMAN AS A UNION MAN IN How Ho about the women organ organized Izell labor Mr Ir Mitchell Do 1 CI many of oC them belong to the tho trade yes el replied the president of oC tho thomine thomine mine workers Most of oC our unions nd nil mil women as ilK members Many be belong long Ion to them mul wo hope to more morl I 1 think tho men should shaul l Induce them to come In There orl also unions un lUlls composed entirely of oC In III Eng I land about nf ot tin mem members bers ber of ot till tho trades unions women What kind of ot a II union man does n woman make Sim makes a 1 vory good one said Mid Mr 11 Mitchell She Aho will 1111 endure more and suffer more for tor what she sho believes to be ho right than the man What hat class of oe men belong to the tho unions The very best hest workmen In III the th Unit United ed III States was the tho reply and men of oC nil all classes In tho United Mine Work Workers ers rs wo admit mIll men of oC all 1111 nationalities and 1 races We Wc men of 0 o differ different lilt ent nations and ond 10 o different languages Wo WI have colored men an ilK well ell as whites whitesand and every Olf class of ot mining labor from the boy ho who ho picks to tho best of oC tho skilled workmen Which clement controls In such Unions tho foreign or tho American The American element clement always con can H I HH HII I t IIII HI f ft t t to tc o c 0 t oC oCt t J 01 t L 0 y t j 1 I 01 Y y T y I HI Wr HH I Hjo JOHN JOliN MITCHELL said Mr Ir Mitchell It Is III tho most Intelligent element and intelli intelligence Int lII Hence gence rules rilles HOW TO HAVE IIA 1 INDUSTRIAL I PEACE What do you think of oC the employers forming associations to deal with lIh or organized labor laborI I think It Is I only through the con COli concerted action of lit such associations of or the labor unions that we am have Industrial peace said Raid John Mitchell Lot the tho employers meet with the tho representatives of oC labor and discuss their differences III 11 ces and If It each Is willing to do the tho fair thing there may mil be bo tel few labor troubles Such associations OIl do great good Mr 11 Mitchell but do they the not combine com hi no against tho Interests ts nf of the I public I mean the consumers No o was the reply reI Tho public will not lIot permit I self to bo fleeced and any nil Improper combination or agreement would bo nt Itt once exposed How 1101 about the coul dealers and coal of at Chicago There Is I n a proof of what I have havo Just said The coal dealers and coal coni team teamsters hod an on unrighteous combination against tho public pu lIc They combined to t How 1101 long Ion I did their I I lt t only it i fw f When It was expo I th n UHS 1111 broken und It II will be hl so 80 ith any com that may bo hl formed thorl l h competition You have bit without It II I 1 dont dOllt care how holl large your OUI capital Is II It t In I the mine with lIh wages if you put up horo In 11 Washington ton the Baltimore workmen will rush In III and un competition will bring them down dOlln A KHAR I H Speaking of oC wages Mr Ir 1 II du II what should he III the lowest pay for Cor nn In ordinary Every I el man should have enough to 10 keep keell his family educate hiM children and lay IA a 1 aside ashl for Cor the future Six hundred dollars a year eur Is III ho tho least that should he paid to unskilled com comman comman man laborers As the class of oC labor libor I I lines the man should receive more and the pay should vary according to his location loco lion The rh mun should have moro than MO COO In III New York or Chicago Every man should havo enough to supply the tho necessities of ot life lite In the latter cities the necessities cost mote more What Would you call tho ties tics of ot iho tho ordinary Mr Mitchell I asked I think man should havo a 0 houM with at lit least leat six room was the He lIe should have u II bath bathroom room roo III a parlor lining room kitchen and enough bedrooms for tor decency and comfort He should have carpet pic pictures tures tUle books to tomake tomal make mal o his hiM homo bright and comfortable He havo food should keep his hi children In school until they are IG i and at nt the tho fame time bo he able to tolay lay Ill away 1110 something for old ago and sickness Tho unskilled workman might have these things for tor COO a II year our In of oC f MOO to Inhabitants but In larger places he need needmore more This Is only for tor the common la III botar As II tho skill of the man rises rl 1 his hili Increase and his necessities grow Till L iO DAY DA How 1101 about the day 11 Mr Ir Mitchell fan Can the United States bo run that way 1117 ur 0 was reply Wo 0 should do flu moro and 1111 better bellel work everywhere If wo 10 had hotl hours only Such Huch must be he considered as liS a 1 lour time Then IH su HI much work In III every man and nil If you OU take lal c too much one day fin you ou 1111 have so RO much less leK for tOl forthe the to come One of f the colle o orli puts It this way If Ir you lInt to net all 1111 you IJU ran fRn out of nf a 1 man mun manfor fur for one nn day only work him the tho whole hours If It you OU want to pot all you can out of him for Cor a n week only work him hours a 0 day In If It for tur a u month him hours and If IC for tl u 11 year eur work hint hlll fifteen bourn and him at Ht It II If It you want to war worl him years let ht him hav huc thu tho ten hour Hut if you want to got tho Hunt out nut of him fur bin whole who working life time you OU mud cut cUl hU hours of or la lu labor bor to tu night p Iler r duy IIII The flirt fact Is III that thata a II run do und dum du 10 more work In III eight hours than in ton ten How do 10 you ou Know Ino that Mr 11 Mit Mitchell Ut chell heW I asked Has It over oVel been Iwen touted Ye wan wnM th reply fin In tho III nol owl wal mines the lIll time was cut l Ut ten hours to tu eight After Cler that tho pro 1110 product duct 11 and till the time produced as much n the time Hut Willi duo lul to the tho freshness fl of ot the men or lr to tu the Iho fact that DIP bosses tu to set get more mure work and rushed in It Jt was largely larsI due lo 10 tho freshness of or till the men Mr II al although though I will way that tho that thai they must have ho n 0 miter output per hour brought better ma machinery chinery Improved 1 tho fa fn of or rapid mining TUN E AND NI SS There Is III no doubt hut but that the hour day reduces drunkenness H Mr Mitchell went on In those towns town lit In Illinois where It has been adopted then theft thenIs Is III now a I higher standard of living and tit lit the same time lime less drunkenness fewer saloons SR This Is so 80 notwithstanding ing wages have risen The man who works orl ten hours comes cOllies homo home tired out I He Is H In no condition for tur rational en ell and ht III wants to go fO either to the tho saloon or ur to bod Lell Jut Hilt Mill not less hours he demanded If hours aru 1 I think not lIot was thu tho reply re l I do not 1101 expect e to tot ee le H nn un eight hour duy du In III my lifetime II rIll III 1 We may IlIa n I I l II hours for tor five Ih days of oe wt k and a 1 halt half holiday Saturday That Is not oot tin 1111 reasonable Indeed It prevails already in some Santo of or work In certain of or the country NOT GOOD Speaking of wages Mr Ir Mitchell lI what do lo you OU think of oC Carroll D IJ Wrights Iden Idel that the wage sy tom will und onu of or IHK In Will Its II I dont think It II In III practical replied Mr Ir Mitchell It would IH lit to make in III lr I think that will rise in got on ou and In Hint way l 1 labor will gut Het nf Its of ut but as liS to a 0 partnership hlll with capital I dunt think It advisable Why h not t 1 I lul ell Wo 0 should huM to tu hOe have a n different of or profits fur every factory rl tOI and this would rl t and full ull with the tho r I labur bor would not I with Its 1111 chare would not lIot bo ho IIII two t I mu t always 14 bo bl to a n rt extent although they th ort are associated to toDo Do you ou think workmen orl ought to have In III tho factories where Ihm they work 1 J doubt It II The Ihl little tock stock hold huld cannot have h weight In nut tern relating to the thu I It nr III Tho laboring mans capital IH hi his own on muscle and He upon them for dully dividends They 1 h mo IM best Investment and tho one should take most care ll ro nf oC Any 11 Interest lie he has In III DIB th establishment to which be he Is ts selling his hiM rh and brain will lie often vitally opposed to 10 In III other words I he if has hall to In wok against I think bP hI ought to keep out of ot nil all with those who pity JlII his hll THE UNITED STEEL COMPANY How about the tho United Steel com plan I think It tins hall been beell a failure said Mr 11 Mitchell The Tho malingers of oC company acted vory or generously and lit tended to benefit the men when they th gave them the right to buy a n certain tain amount of their preferred stock at nt a share They The thought ami the tho themen thomen men who Invested thought too lOll that tilt the would Increase In value lIuo ami pity JIll good dividends right along then It has gone down more than per Iler share I the company has acted elY vory fairly with tho men mell They rhey will get their dividends but It will be a II long time before they can call bo paid back what they the have put In III UNCLE t ell SAM A AND THE rm UNIONS R How about unions In the government service Mr Ir Mitchell I aski d I see no reason against thrill them re 10 piled Mr Ir I mean among u ull If n I I t classes of ot governmental whose duties lire are not of oe a n confidential nature Men IIII and women who nio working for tor tho Ih government In the ordinary have hav n perfect right ll ht to combine r i Take luko the printers for tor t Instance M UI I Yes Mr Mitchell They ought to lIu u a union und manage their i on union lines Just Ju t the lIme ns liS though thy were working for tor an un In How 1101 about the mall The rile Mill How II about the lie 7 The Th army as II we wc view It said Mr Ir doo not demand skilled la III bur bor I HOP l no reason 1 aIn h It should havo ha 0 I unions ami yet el I K n no reason r why wh thu th should not Ilot combine to tu nik the tho government for fOI more wages A el other How lIu about politics will wll we u l 1 I dont know about that thai Mr 0 Mitchell 11 I If the times como come the thc theman man It may 1110 hill but If It fill o It will b he by lIy foil fair means Abraham Lincoln aM A 1 laboring man Ho stood for all HII that WP 1 for and he might hoe have ben our candidate THE OF ol TUB Till NONUNION MAN MA Just JUAt one Oil question morr 0 rl Mr Ir Mit chell wild Mill I What are the rights of at till thu nonunion He It has hilI all the right of any nn ual under the law wn Willi HIP th reply Hut the tho union will not 1101 permit Mm him to tn them salt said I Itlo I do not lIot think you rOil ore right ro the th president of or the United 1 mno Worker Thi unions do 10 not molest molo t 7 the worker In III any on Illegal I There Theft are now 1101 and then It Is I true where Individuals have n but It has hili been beun by hy tints ualA not f h y the as 1111 such A Kivat deal linn about nuch 1 outrages and the deaths caused by hy j thorn have not |
